Damper for grand-piano actions



. F. L. GEORGE.`

DAMPER FOR GRAND PIANO ACTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1919.

1,353,643. PatentedSept. 21, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAMPER FOR GRAND-:FIANO ACTIONS.

Application filed September 9, 19l9.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK L. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States,1esiding at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Danipers forGrand- Piano Actions, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to make an improved damper for grand pianos, and myinvention consists of tbe novel features herein shown, described andclaimed.

A. very objectionable condition existing in the -.grand action for alltime is the very unequal touch with which the pianist has to contendowing to the alternate weight put onto the key through the operation ofthe danipers. Under the present form of construction it is out of thequestion to keep the weight of touch on the key equalized, owing to theconstantly alternating movement of the damper on and off the key causedby the operation of the loud pedal up and down. The act of using theloud pedal moves the entire damper action upward from off t-he rear endof the key thereby taking its weight entirely from the key; this damperaction constitutes about one-third of the weight on the key, so thatwhen it is removed by the pedal the weight of touch is about one-thirtlighter, and owing to the constant movement of the loud pedal by theperformer there is a constantly alternating touch between heavy andlight causing a most disagreeable sensation to the pianist.

My object is to overcome the 'objectionable features of the oldconstruction.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing an equalizing damperfor grand pianos embodying` the principles of my invention, the partsbeing in their normal positions with the key at rest.

Fig. 2 is a view analogous to Fig. 1 and showing the action when the keyis struck.

The key l normally rests upon the back rail` key cloth 2. The wire 3 isin its usual position above the rear end of the key 1. The damper leverrail 4 is substantially in the -usual position and the damper leverflange 5 is secured against the front face of the rail 4 and extendsupwardly. The damper lever 6 is pivotally connected to the damper leverflange 5 by a pin 7 and is normally substantially horizontal and extendsforwardly from the damper lever rail 4. A round extension 8 extends fromthe lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 322,727.

face of the damper lever 6 about one-third of the distance from itsforward end. The equalizer 9 is substantially straight. The extension 8is bifurcatod and the equalizer 9 has an ear 1() fitting in thebifurcation and connected by a pin 11 like a hinge. rihe forward end ofthe equalizer 9 has a felt 12 fitting upon the rear end of the key 1 anda similar felt 13 is secured to the rear end of the equalizer 9. rllhedamper rod i4 engages the felt 13.

The damper rod 14 has an extension rod 15 and the extension rod 15 ishingodly connected at its rear end by a pin 16 carried by an attachingplate 17 secured to the supporting arm 1S by a screw 19. rPhe supportingarm 1S extends forwardly from the lower side of the damper lever railThe arm 1S has a seat 2O in the upper face of its forward end and a felt21 rests in the seat 2O and supports the damper rod 14 when in itsnormal position. The loud pedal rod 22 extends upwardly through thebottom of the piano and engages the damper rod 14, so that when the loudpedal is operated the rod 22 is reciprocated upwardly against the damperrod and raises the damper rod i4 from the seat 21 thereby raisingl therear end of the equalizer 9 as shown in dotted lines.

The movable damper lever flange 23 is pivotally connected to the damperlever 6 by a pin 24. rfhe lifter wire 25 extends upwardly from thedamper lever flange 28 through a support 26, and the damper 27 isconnected to the upper end of the lifter wire 25 in position to engagethe piano wire 3.

A spring 28 has a forward end 29 bearing upon the damper lever 6 nearits center, a coil 30 near its rear end, and a rear end 31 bearing uponthe rear end of the damper lever 6. The coil 30 forms a bearing and thewire is inserted through the bifurcation in the upper end of the damperlever flange 5 and a pin 32 is inserted through the darnper lever flange5 and through the coil 30.

lhen the loud pedal is operated by the performer the loud pedal rod 22immediately actuates the damper rod 14, which in turn raises the rearend of the equalizer 9 which having its forward end resting on the key 1exerts its influence on the damper lever 6, which in turn lifts on themovable damper lever flange 23, which in its turn carries upward thelifter wire 25 which raises the damper 2T from the piano wire PatentedSept. 21, 1220.

Y erts an equal pressure upon the key at all times instead of beingraised Jfrom the key by the operation of the loud pedal as in thel oldconstruction thus producing a touch having a perfectly even resistanceat all times.

Thus l have produced a damper for grand pianos comprising thecombination With a damper lever, of an equalizer pivotally connected atits center to the free end of the damper lever, one end of the equalizerresting upon the rear end of a piano key and the other end of theequalizer resting upon the damper rod, so that When the loud pedal isoperated to raise the damper construction the front end of the equalizeris always upon the piano ke i so as to make a uniform touch.

Various changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of'myinvention as claimed.

I claim:

A damper for grand pianos comprising the combination with a piano keyand a damper lever, of an equalizer pivotally connected to the 'free endof the damper lever, one end of the equalizer resting upon the rear endorP the piano key and the other end of the equalizer resting upon thedamper rod, so that when the loud pedal is operated te raise the dampermechanism the fo 1Ward end of the equalizer is always upon the pianokey, thereby equalizing the touch.

.-2. ln a damper for grand pia-no actions, in combination With a key, adamper lever and/a damper rod; an equalizing lever resting upon theinner end of the key and upon the rod, being connected intermediate ofits ends with the damper lever and forming a support therefor.

3. ln a grand piano, the combination With a key, a horizontally disposeddamper lever and a damper rod; of an equalizing lever positioned tosupport the outer end of the damper lever; one end of said equalizinglever being in contact with the key and the other end being in contactWith the damper red; said contact being maintained irrespective orp themovement orp the key or the damper rod.'

4. ln a damper for grand piano actions, in combination, a damper leverpivotally mounted and having a lug extending from its lovver sideadjacent to its outer end, an

equalizing lever having an upwardly eX- tending lug pivotally connectedwith the lug of the damper lever and a cushioning pad fixed to each endof the equalizing lever, the lever resting at one end upon a key and atthe other end upon a damper rod.

5. ln a grandpiano, the combination With a key, a loud pedal mechanism,a horizontally disposed damper lever and a damper rod; of meanshorizontally disposed under the damper lever for substantiallyequalizing the action touch of the key irrespective of the movement ofthe damper rod, said means being operatively connected to said loudpedal mechanism and said key.

6. in a grand piano, the combination With a key, a horizontally disposeddamper lever and a damper rod; o1e means pivotally connected to thedamper lever for substantially equalizing the action touch of the keyirrespective of the movement of the damper rod; said means being inpermanent contact With the key and the damper rod. Y f

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK L. esoneri.

